Fruit jar and the like



Jan. 29, 1 929. 1,700,162

J. R. HAYS ET AL FRUIT" JAR AND THE LIKE Filed March 12, 1928 Patented Jan. 29, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES R. HAYS AND EARL M. LIAS, F AKRON, IOWA.

IRUIT JAR AND THE LIKE.

Application filed March 12, 1928. Serial No. 260,954.

Ourinvention relates to that class of fruit or preserve jar which employs a yoke and lever locking construction for maintaining the cover of the jar in sealed position.

The object of our invention is to provide means adapted to cooperate with the afore mentioned locking mechanism for forcibly removing the cover from the jar after it has become tightly sealed thereagainst.

More specifically, it is our object to provide means on the cover or on the cover and jar together, adapted to be engaged by the yoke of said locking construction, the lever being employed to force said yokeegains't 1 said means, whereby to lift the cover.

A further object is to provide an arrange ment in which the pressure may be applied in any of several different manners, so that should one method fail, another may be employed.

With these and other objects in view, our invent-ion consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed outin our claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the upper portion of a fruit jar employing one form of'our invention.

Fig. 2 is the upper portion of a fruit jar employing another form of our invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the preferred form of our invention.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a Iurther modified form of our invention, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation taken at 90 to the view shown in Fig. 5, showing the same arrangement.

Our invention consists primarily in the concept of utilizing the ordinary yoke and lever locking mechanism for the new purpose of removing the jar cover. To this end, it is necessary to alter somewhat the construction of the cover or the jar and cover together in order to utilize the potential pressure which may be exerted by the yoke in either of two different ways.

For instance, we have discovered that the central. cross portion 10 of the yoke ll, shown in Fig. 3. may be brought to a pest tion just below the plane of the lower edge of the cover and just closely adjacent the neck of the jar, as illustrated in Fig. 1 and while in this position, the lever 12 will be substantially horizontal as shown. From this horizontal position, the lever 12 may be raised a considerable distance, thereby tending to move the yoke 11 either upwardly or laterally outwardly from its position shown in Fig. 1. It may now be noted that if movement in a lateral direction is properly restrained, that the force imparted to the yoke 11 by upward movement of the lever 12 will result in an upward pressure.

Before proceeding further with a detailed description of the methods of employing our invention, a short detailed description of the locking mechanism'itselfis appropriate to clearly identify the locking mechanism shown in the drawing with the common commercial product found on the market at the present time, with which this invention deals.

The yoke 11 has substantially parallel side arms 13 which are bent inwardly toward each other at their ends to form the hooked portions 14. The lever 12 is formed also as a yoke and its arms are looped near their ends as at 15 to form theeyes which receive the hooked ends 14 and thence extended upwardly substantially at right angles to the side arms proper to form the short lever portions 16. The latter are hooked inwardly at their ends (not illustrated) and fulcrumedin suitable depressions in the jar or in the collarv 17, which is secured to the jar. When used as a locking device, the yoke 11 is raised and swung above the cover 18 of the jar .19 and is received in a depression formed between two lugs 20, formed integrally in the top of the cover. Downward movement of the lever 12 applies pressure to the yoke 11 and when the short lever portions 16 have swung past the center, the yoke 12 will be locked against the side of the jar in the position shown in dotted lines.

Returning now to the discussion of the means for utilizing this locking mechanism for the new purpose under discussion, the upward pressure of the yoke previously described can be obtained by the use of a tongue 21, extending outwardly from the rover 18 substantially flush Wit the lower edge thereof and formed integrally with the cover. A downwardly extending finger 22 serves to restrain the yoke 11 against outward movement and when the lever 12 is moved upwardly, as indicated by the arrow 23, the resulting pressure will be an upward pressure against the tongue 21, as indicated by the arrow 2a.

In some fruit jar const1-uctions,ltl1e collar 17 is embedded in a depression encircling the neck of the fruit jar. In such a sac, the counter-pressure produced against the collar 17 by the resistance of the cover 18 to being lifted, will be suitably withstood by the engagement of the collar in its depression. In some constructions, however, the collar 17-ismerely securedtightly about the neck of the jar and the shoulder 25 of the jar serves the purpose of retaining the collar against the upward movement, the only counter-movement induced in the ordinary use of the locking mechanism. Under such a condition, the pressure against the yoke 11 may be transmitted directly by the fingers of the operator. Fig. 3 illustrates how this is possible, the adjacent portions of the side arms 13 and the central member 10 extending outwardly from the jar sufficiently to enable the operator to grasp these portions.

In the second embodiment of means to utilize the pressure of the locking member,

the upward pressure against the cover is nduced in an analogous manner, which 1s,

however. specifically difi'erentin certain de tails. The same tongue isemployed to lie ceive the pressure of the yoke 11,*beinglnumberedin Fig. 2 of the drawings \Vltlllt'hi' ref erence numeral 26. Like the tongue 21, the tongue26 extends outwardly from the cover 18, is formed integrallytherewith and its lower surface is substantially iflush with the lower edge of the cover.

WVith these-conditions existing, the yoke 11 may be positioned with its central member 10 touching the lower surface of the tongue 26 and positioned. somewhat .away from the neck of the jar 19 wh'en thelev'cr 12 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 2. The yoke is therefore in positionto exert pressure against the tongue 26.

The pressure in this case, however, is obtained by moving the lever 12 downwardly as indicated by the arrow 27. Downward pressure of the lever 27 will exert a force against the yoke 11, which may be resolvedinto an inward pressure and a downward pressure.

In this case,the inward pressure lacinployed for lifting the cover and the downwardpressure must therefore be restrained. In order -to restrain the downward movement, we provide a tongue 28, formed integrally with the 19-and substantially flush with the upper edge of the jar neck.

The tongue 28 is of such length that the central member 10 of the yoke 11 may just clear the. outer entremityof the tongue when the lever 12 is at its upper limit of move- .ment.

Upon moving the lever downwardly, the member .-10.will be forced inwardly between the tongues 26 and 28. The opposed faces ofithese tonguesare converged inwardly and the result of the inward pressure of the member .10 will be :to force the tongues apart. WVhether the dower face .of the tongue 26 be 111Cl1I16Cl from the horizontal or the upper :face of-the tongue 287cc inclined from the horizontal, the result will be the same. This result .isanalogous .to the result obtainedin the form of our invention shown in 11in that the yoke 11 exerts upward pressure against a-tongue formed integrally with the top 18, said upward pressurebeing directed and induced .by some means which restrains movement oft-he yokeinonexlirection, thereby directing itspressure inalrupward direction.

The form shown in 'Fig. 2 may be ,cmployed in the samemanner as described for :Fig. .1, where it is necessary to dispense with the lever :12 and engagethe yoke 11 directly with the fingers.

The preferred form of our .invention shown in F1g.1- embodies both ofthe featuresof Figs. 1 and 2,3thereference charac- ,ter 30 being hereused to designate the projecting tongue'and the reference character 22 to indicate .the finger which extends downwardly fromthe end thereof. ltmay be noted 'thahthe I curvature of the linger 22 is such as to space it from the tongue 28 of the ar atiall points sufficiently to allow the insertion of thememberlO between the ,the blade of a knife 82 orsoinesimilar instrument may be rested, the abutment acting as flflTLllClllm HIlClhllGlilllffi acting as a lever to exert upward pressure against thetongue 21. The use of the knife in this manner and,

the direct application of pressure to the yoke 11 by the finger of the operator, as hereinbefore describechboth constitutethe alternative methodsof operation mentioned in the-obj ects of invention.

The t-ongues28 ofFigs. 2 and t serve in the same capacity as the abutment 31,111 addition to the r otherfunct ons.

In the broadest view of our invention, the

principalelements which enter into said invention are the yoke 11 of an already existing locking device, serving as a means of transmitting pressure, and a tongue formed on the cover and projecting beyond theside thereof, so as to receive the pressure of the yoke.

In some jars, the collar 17 is dispensed with, and the lever portions 16 are fulcrumed in cavities formed in. the side of the In this case, an essential element of the invention is that the tongue on the cover be positioned radially aligned with the two lugs 20.

In the next broadest view of our invention, the primary elements essentialto the obtaining of the result by employing the lever 12 are the yoke 11. of an already existing locking device, the lever 12 employed to transmit pressure to the yoke 11 and limited in its movement, the projecting tongue formed on the cover in a position to receive the yoke. when the lever is in position to be moved to transmit pressure to the yoke and means on the cover or the jar to restrain movement of the yoke in one direction in such a way as to direct the pressure of the yoke in an upward direction. The two methods of obtaining this result have been described.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of our invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

e claim as our invention:

1. In combination with a jar of the class described, a cover for said jar, and a locking device including a yoke and a lever to which said yoke is attached, adapted to move the yoke in a direction generally upward and away from the jar, or in a direction generally downward and toward the jar; a tongue formed on the cover and projecting laterally beyond the rim thereof, in a position. to receive upward pressure from the yoke.

52. In combination with a jar of the class described, a cover for said jar, having central diametrically opposed lugs, and a looking device including a yoke adapted to engage said cover between said lugs to hold it against the jar, and a lever to which said yoke is attached, adapted to move the yoke in a direction generally upward and away from the jar, or in a direction generally downward and toward the jar; a tongue formed on the cover and projecting laterally beyond the rim thereof, in a position to receive upward pressure from the yoke, said tongue being positioned radially aligned with said lugs.

3. In combination with a jar of the class described, a cover for said jar, and a locking device including a yoke adapted to engage said cover to hold it against the jar, and a lever to which said yoke is attached, adapted to move the yoke in a direction generally upward and away from the jar, or in a direction generally downward and toward the jar; a tongue formed on the cover and pro jecting laterally beyond the rim thereof, in a position to receive upward pressure from the yoke, and means attached to the jar or to the cover to restrain movement of the yoke in one direction, while being acted upon by the lever, so as to direct its pressure in an upward direction.

4. In combination with a jar of the class described, a cover for said jar, and a looking device including a yoke adapted to en.- gage said. cover to hold it against the jar, and a lever to which said yoke is attached, adapted to move the yoke in a direction generally upward and away from the jar, or in a direction generally downward and toward the jar; a tongue formed on the cover and projecting laterally beyond the rim thereof, in a position to receive upward pressure from the yoke, induced by the lever.

5. In combination with a jar of the class described, a cover for said ar, and a locking device including a yoke adapted to engage said cover to hold it against the jar, and a lever to which said yoke is attached, adapted to move the yoke in a direction generally upward and away from the jar, or in a direction generally downward and toward the jar; a tongue formed on the cover and projecting laterally beyond the rim thereof, in a pos'itionto receive upward pressure from the yoke, induced by the lever, and means attached to the cover to restrain the yoke from outward movement while being acted. upon by the lever.

6. In combination with a jar of the class described, a cover for said jar, and a locking device including a yoke adapted to engage said cover to hold it against the jar, and a lever to which said yoke is attached, adapted to move the yoke in a direction generally upward and away from the jar, or in a direction generally downward and toward the jar; a tongue formed on the cover and projecting laterally beyond the rim thereof, in a position to receive upward pressure from the yoke, induced by the lever, and means attached to the cover to restrain the yoke from outward movement while being acted upon by the lever, said means comprising a downwardly inclined finger forming an extension of the tongue.

7. In combination with a jar of the class described, a cover for said jar, and a locking device including a yoke adapted to engage said cover to hold it against the jar, and a lever to which said yoke is attached, adapted to move the yoke in a direction generally upward and away from the jar, or in a direction generally downward and toward the jar; opposed tongues formed. on the cover and jar respectively, ,then opposed faeeshe- 111g converged nwardly end being spaced apart at then outer extre i t es a disteice greater than the thickness ofthe centrelpor- ,moo ez positioned to receive pressure from the yoke induced by downward movement of the lever.

Signed this 8th day of March, 1928, in the county of ,WQQdbiiry and State of Iowa. JAMES R. HAYS.

EARL M. LIAS. 

